A Monegasque appeals to the epic to join the fight against Alcaraz in Tokyo

He is making history for tennis in Monaco, a traditional setting on the clay court tour, with a lot of ‘glamour’, but with little presence in the sporting aspect of the ATP Tour. It is not exactly a player factory. There are exceptions, such as Benjamin Balleret, for a long time serving as a reference and who now helps the most prominent, Valentin Vacherot.

27-year-old left-hander and world No. 18, late maturing and great opportunities. He had a double presence in the semifinals of the ATP Masters 1000, in Shanghai 2025, which he won at the expense of his French cousin Arthur Rinderknechand Monte Carlo 2026, which he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.

Vacherot has taken another step as a late star of Monegasque tennis. He qualified for his third semifinal, first in the ATP 500 category. He appealed to the epic to get into the fight against the defending champion in Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Denis Shapovalov to reach the Tokyo semifinalsKIYOSHI OTA / EFE

This Monday, the Murcian’s rival will be the Mallorcan Jaume Munar. If Alcaraz maintains his undefeated streak in the Japanese capital, on Tuesday he would expose the crown against the Monegasque Valentin Vacherot or the Czech Jiri Lehecka, that defeated 6-1 and 6-1 Paraguayan Dani Vallejo.

Vacherot staged a remarkable double retreat. He saved two set points and a 3-5 to take the first set 7-5. Another effort in the third and final: from 2-4 to 6-4. Winner in 2h.20′.

TOKYO (Japan), 04/10/2026.- Arthur Fils of France in action during his quarterfinal match against Valentin Vacherot of Monaco of the Japan Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 04 October 2026. (Tennis, France, Japan, Tokyo) EFE/EPA/KIYOSHI OTA — Arthur Fils, defeated by Valentin Vacherot in TokyoKIYOSHI OTA / EFE

He beat the French Arthur Fils22 years old and world No. 9, 7-5, 4-6 and 6-4. Another opportunity that eludes the current Godó champion and member of the Tokyo winners’ list, which he conquered in 2024.

This time he had to go through the preliminary phase because he forgot to register on time, and there was no invitation for him, neither in Tokyo nor in Beijing. He had the game in his hands several times, but Vacherot is always fireproof and sometimes his nerves play tricks on him. Fils could have put himself in perfect position for the ATP Finals in Turin. It leaves some valuable points.

Vacherot is taking a breath before the mission to defend 1,000 points next in Shanghai. In the ‘Race’ he is 37th, that haul keeps him close to the best.